TMF, Menendez get feisty during TV debate

photo by: Bob Daemmrich/Marjorie Kamys CoteraState Reps. José Menéndez (l.) and Trey Martinez-Fischer, both from San Antonio Districts, are seeking the state Senate seat vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for mayor of that city (courtesy: The Texas Tribune).

AUSTIN — State Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer and Jose Menéndez traded sharp jabs during a joint television appearance that aired Friday, just days before early voting starts in the runoff race to replace state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte.

For roughly 15 minutes on KLRN’s “Texas Week,” the two San Antonio Democrats went after each other on everything from contributions given by payday lenders to the political correctness of Martinez Fischer’s reference to the GOP as “Gringos y Otros Pendejos” at the state Democratic convention over the summer. At one point, Menéndez even accused Martinez Fischer of orchestrating a political action committee with the intent to “launder money” back to his campaign account.

About the only thing the two agreed on: they both oppose attempts to pass school vouchers at the Legislature.

Early voting starts Monday in the Feb. 17 runoff election between Martinez Fischer and Menéndez. The two emerged from a crowded field in a January special election, in which Martinez Fischer dominated by snagging 43 percent of the vote to Menendez’s 25 percent. Two Republicans in the field split 28 percent of the total vote.

Friday’s program started off feisty and maintained that tone throughout.

Asked by moderator Rick Casey, a longtime newspaper columnist, what Menendez was doing to make up the gap between him and Martinez Fischer and whether he was recruiting Republican voters, Menendez responded: “We’re talking to everybody.”

That left the door wide open for Martinez Fischer to attack Menéndez over alleged ties to a powerful special interest group that has contributed millions of dollars mostly to state Republicans over the years. During the special election, Texans for Lawsuit Reform spent about $180,000 to attack Martinez Fischer.

“What amazes me is this: the partnerships that Jose has chosen with people who are strong supporters of Dan Patrick,” Martinez Fischer said, referencing the newly-elected Republican lieutenant governor. “I don’t like people misleading voters. I don’t like people lying to voters. If you want to be a partner with Dan Patrick then just say so.”

Menéndez has denied any link to TLR, which has bought television time to run ads during the runoff, according to public records.

Returning fire, Menéndez raised questions about a political action committee called One Texas that is linked to Martinez Fischer, saying it served as an avenue “to launder money.” The PAC’s treasurer is the former chief of staff for Martinez Fischer.

A campaign finance report released in October showed nearly $80,000 in contributions from various donors to the PAC, mostly lawyers, while it injected roughly $90,000 into Martinez Fischer’s Senate bid.

“The question is why didn’t they write the checks directly to Trey, so unless you want to hide the contributions, I don’t know why,” Menéndez said.

Menéndez then brought up contributions from prominent payday lender Trevor Ahlberg, who has given to Martinez Fischer around $28,000 over the years. Menendez’s camp has put out a mail piece hitting Martinez Fischer over the donations. Earlier in the week, Menéndez put out a news release calling on Martinez Fischer to return the money.

“My constituents … know exactly where I am on this issue,” Martinez Fischer responded during the televised appearance. “I’d like see Jose admit right now that he’s never taken a single dollar from a payday lender. I’d love to hear him to say that.”

To which Menéndez responded: “I’ll return every single dollar from a payday lender as soon as he returns the $28,000 from Trevor Ahlberg.”

“That’s not the question,” Martinez Fischer shot back. “The question is if he feels like this payday lending is such an issue then why doe he take money from them?”